Dengue menace took a serious turn in Meherpur as 282 people were infected with dengue in the district in September.
Meherpur Civil Surgeon office advised everyone to stay aware about dengue.
The most cases of dengue were seen in Gangi Upazila of the district. Gangni upazila has the highest number of dengue cases in the last month as 97 people were infected in 30 days.
The general patients are at risk as there is no separate ward for dengue patients in Gangni upazila hospital. The patients fear that the dengue infection will spread among others as the patients infected with dengue are not using mosquito nets.
It was known that people have been suffering from cold and fever in both rural and town areas. At first, people in the village take treatment from quack doctors without testing. Later, they get admitted to hospitals when their condition becomes serious. In most of their cases, dengue antigen was found in the blood test.
A total of 37 people were infected in Meherpur district in July, August and September last year. Meanwhile, 341 people were tested positive for dengue in the last two and half months this year. The doctors suspected that the number of dengue infection may increase in October.
The patients said that they are kept with the general patients at the health complex. So, the other patients who are getting admitted to the hospital are at risk of being infected with dengue.
Resident Medical Officer of Gangni Upazila Health Complex Dr Md Abdul Al Maruf said many patients are coming to receive treatment with fever. They are being advised to take blood test, as well as to use mosquito nets. He also said, whether it is classical dengue or hemorrhagic dengue, people should get tested and then take medicine if they have fever during this season. If a person is infected with classical dengue once and then gets infected again, their condition becomes more critical. So everyone needs to be careful if they have fever. He said the patients are not listening to the doctors. The doctor also said that announcement would be made with loudspeaker to make people aware about dengue crisis.
Meanwhile, the number of dengue patients is increasing in Meherpur day by day. Every day, patients are getting admitted to Meherpur 250-bed General Hospital, Gangni and Mujibnagar Upazila Health Complex. Seven patients got admitted to Meherpur 250-bed Hospital and 16 patients got admitted to Mujibnagar Upazila Health Complex on Monday.
According to district civil surgeon office, a total of 250 patients were admitted to Meherpur General Hospital, Gangni Upazila Health Complex and Mujibnagar Health Complex in September. Among them, 144 patients were admitted to Meherpur General Hospital, 93 patients were admitted to Gangni Upazila Health Complex and 13 patients were admitted to Mujibnagar Upazila Health Complex. A total of 400 patients were admitted in July, August and September. The doctors feared that the number may increase.
While visiting Meherpur 250-bed General Hospital, it was known that the number of beds at dengue ward is insufficient. The civil surgeon office said the general patients are also admitted in the dengue ward due to a lack of space at the hospital.
Superintendent of Meherpur General Hospital Dr Jomir Mohammad Hasibus Sattar expressed his dissatisfaction over the poor condition of the hospital when he was asked about the dengue menace. He said there is a lack of medical officers, emergency medical officers and office assistants. According to his information, there are only four medical officers instead of 11 medical officers in the hospital. There are only two emergency medical officers whereas there were supposed to be seven emergency medical officers, four office assistants (MLSS) whereas there were supposed to be 26, and only one cook whereas there were supposed to be six.
It was known that almost 1,000 patients take treatment at the indoor and outdoor departments of Meherpur General Hospital. Only two doctors are taking care of the patients, including dengue patients, at emergency department. Only one cook makes food for almost 450 patients admitted to the hospital.
The Medical Officer of the hospital said I have to treat the patients even though it’s hectic for us. Sometimes I have to go to the hospital cancelling my leave. I can’t even get proper rest. Two medical officers are giving treatment at the emergency department. In this situation, if the number of dengue patients continues to rise like this, it will become extremely difficult to provide treatment for dengue patients and other patients as well.
Superintendent Dr Jomir Mohammad Hasibur Sattar said they have all type of arrangements to provide treatment to dengue patient including kits and separate wards. However, it is important to conduct campaigns everywhere so that everyone can become aware about dengue crisis. He said we are trying to make people aware as much as possible.
The municipality people said although there is allocated larvicides to control mosquito, it was not sprayed in Meherpur and Gangni municipality. Although awareness campaign was supposed to be conducted at ward level, it has not been conducted. Moreover, the district administration, upazila administration, district civil surgeon office and union parishads did not conduct any awareness campaign.
